Law enforcers asked to apply social distancing strictly

DHAKA: The cabinet on Monday asked the law enforcement agencies and local administration to be more alert and strict to apply social distancing and self-quarantine guidelines to slow the spread of coronavirus in the country.

The decision was taken at a weekly cabinet meeting with Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in the chair at her official Ganabhaban residence in the morning.

"The law enforcement agencies and local administration have been asked to be more alert and strict in implementing the guidelines ofsocial distancing and self-quarantine as the coronavirus situation aggravated today in comparison to yesterday," cabinet secretary Khandker Anwarul Islam told a media briefing at the secretariat in the afternoon.

The cabinet secretary also requested all to offer prayer at home on the holy night of Shab-e-Barat as it is a nafal prayer and Prophet Mohammed (PBUH) used to offer it at home.

Noting that the people who are within the compound of Mecca and Medina are offering jamaat prayer there in the wake of coronavirus outbreak, he made a fervent appeal to all to follow the directives of the Islamic Foundation, and offer prayer at home.

The cabinet secretary added: "Everybody has to follow the directives of the Islamic Foundation to this end, otherwise, it will be impossible to prevent the spread of the coronavirus."